Learning about environment and science in this programmed was realized by using a module on lichens which
was just developed especially for the implementation of thisprogrammed. This module is unique compared to other
modules because this module emphasizes the function of environment as a scie3nce learning laboratory. From the
aspect of incorporating environment knowledge, this moduleis different from others in that other modules would
only normally use the environment as a learningspace to recognize diversity of living species and the interaction
between species. On the other hand, the module on lichenswas developed to expose students on how lichens are
used a biological indicator for monitoring air quality. In addition to that, the activities in this module are
multidisciplinary as they involve learning about chemistry (the use of chemicals in the experiment), biology and
ecology (lichen is the result of interaction between alga, bacteria and fungus),geography (mapping, Global
positioning system GPS, Global Information System GIS) mathematics (data analysis), civics (environmental action
and decision making process) and arts (photography and sketching).
The experiments contained in the lichen module consist of a series of activities. As such, the education
programmed is conducted for duration of two days. The content of the activities are: i) lectures onthe introduction
to lichens, ii) identification of different types of lichens, iii) counting the population of lichens, iv) calculating the air
quality index v) determination of the level of air quality, vi) comparing air quality at different locations, vii)
mapping the results of comparative air quality and viii) presenting and displaying research results from each group.
The learning lectures were delivered in the lecture theatre by a lichen expert., whilst other activities were
implemented in small groups comprising 12 to 14 participants under the guidance of trained facilitators.
The effectiveness of the organized programmed is determined based on the assessment of several aspects. The
aspects assessed are the change of the level of the participantsunderstanding of the concept of lichens, the change in
the level of skill competency in the science process and the satisfaction of the participants towards education
programmed conducted. For this purpose, other than developing the lichen module, the research instruments used
are the sets of pre and post tests as well as questionnaires. The pre and post test sets contain ten multiple choice
items which test the participants’ knowledge about lichens and 17 Liker scale items to identify the science process
competency levels which the participants possess before and after attending the organized education programmed. .
The multiple choice items consist of questions about concepts in lichens, i.e. characteristics of alga, the definition of
lichens, source of pollution, quadrant concepts, function of lichens as a bio-indicator, types of lichens, calculation
of lichen frequency, determination of the air quality index value, the role of lichens andthe determination of the
level of air pollution. The Likerscale which measures the science process skill comprise of the integrated science
process competency list with 5 scales, i.e., 1=not competent at all, 2=not competent, 3=less competent,
4=competent, and 5=very competent. Thus the determination of the level of science process competencies is based
on the perspective of the participants towards the competency of their own science process competencies.
During the last slot of the education programmed, a set ofquestionnaire to obtain feed back of the participants
towards the programmed was distributed. The aspects assessed through the questionnaire are the opinion of the
participant about the knowledge they obtained during the program, the experimental activity from the lichen
module, the out of the classroom learning approach and the implementation of the programmed as a whole. The
participant’s satisfaction about the aspects above were identified using the five Liker scale for each item,
i.e.1=totally disagree, 2=disagree, 3 =slightly agree, 4=agree, 5=totally agree.
In order to make a comparison on the level of knowledge of lichenconcept and the science process skill,
descriptive analysis based on mean value, standard deviation, frequency and percentage , aswell as t-test squared
interference analysis was used. The feedback from the participants on the implementation of the programmed was
based on descriptive analysis, i.e. mean and standard deviation.